We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.

Robert K Pearce

March 13, 1928 ~ August 27, 2019 (age 91)

Tribute

Service Details

Tribute Wall

Send Flowers

Reverend Mr Robert K. Pearce, Sr was welcomed into his eternal reward on August 27, 2019, surrounded by his loving children at the Beehive in Columbia Falls, MT.

Born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania on March 13, 1928, he married Mary Lou Smith in September of 1948. They lived among friends and family in New Jersey for 45 years before moving to the Flathead in 1992. Married for nearly 70 years before Lu Lu’s passing in 2018, they raised 3 loving children: Bob, Jr (Lynn) and Doni Landwehr (Jim) both of Columbia Falls; and Kathy Schulte (Bob) who resides in Missoula. Over the years, his family grew to include 9 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, assuring his exemplary life of love and service would live on in spirit for many years to come. He was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church in Tupelo Mississippi on July 24, 1982 and served the people of St. Richards and the community of Columbia Falls for his 27 years in the valley.

Deacon Bob was also an accomplished businessman and exceptional engineer. After serving two years in the army in Korea, he returned to earn a degree in Chemical Engineering and then a masters in Industrial Engineering from Seton Hall University, all while working full time to support his young family. Most notably, he developed sophisticated processes and metallurgical components while working at RCA, which ultimately contributed to powering our early satellites at NASA, and for which he earned several patents. He left RCA in 1972 and moved to the furniture industry where he excelled as a manufacturing engineer. He was instrumental in developing the “Quality Circles” programs in the 70’s, designed to improve manufacturing processes and reduce product imperfections. When he wasn’t working he could be seen supporting his kid’s and grandkid’s academic interests, sports endeavors and hobbies. Over the years, he was also known to roll a bowling ball, shuffle a deck of cards, wet a line and swing a golf club once and awhile.

He was, above all, a dedicated follower of Christ, a lover of God and neighbor; he walked the walk everyday as a member of the clergy and as the head of his family. He was a brilliant and loving man, honorable and selfless. He will be missed by family and friends alike.

There will be visitation on Friday, August 30 from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. We will celebrate Deacon Bob’s life with a Rosary at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 2, 2019 at St. Richard’s Church followed by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 11:00, and inurnment at St. Richards Cemetery on Talbot Road. Friends and family can gather back at the Pearce Center at St. Richards for lunch and fellowship. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the St. Richards Building Fund.